Aquarium Center — Attraction in Gloucester Township

Since I discovered the Aquarium Center over a month ago, I've made at least 6 trips there. On 3 of those trips, I drove 40 minutes specifically to visit this store. I've read the other reviews and I'm going to attempt to provide some clarity on the good and bad reviews.

First: Selection. Their selection of fish, plants and accessories is (in my experience) unparalleled. It boggles the mind to read reviews that are contrary to this. They have more tanks of plants than most stores have of fish. There is a whole section of driftwood. They have specimens that will fit anything from a 10G to a 100 gallon plus. When it comes to fish, the choices are even more varied. When I was planning my new tank, I made some visits to "big box" stores, and did a lot of reading online. Some of the fish I read about seemed like unicorns. I had never seen one in real life. Then I visited the Aquarium Center. They have more almost as many varieties of Tetra as my nearby stores have of freshwater fish combined.

Next: Quality. Sadly, as I didn't discover this store until after my I first stocked my tank, I haven't bought a fish there yet. That's going to change soon. Regardless, I've bought numerous plants, food, a heater, a siphon, thermometers and water treatments. The staff is knowledgeable, but I'm impressed by the fact that they aren't afraid to say "I don't know" On a recent visit, I picked up a Fluval vaccum/siphon. I asked if it was a good one. They said it was relatively new, and they didn't have any personal experience with it, but said they had sold a few and didn't have any returns or complaints. I appreciated that response.

Staff: I've gotten some great tips from the staff. They are all knowledgeable, some more than others, but that's just the way the world works. I've never gotten BAD advice from them. A couple of times, they didn't know the answer to my question. I would rather them answer that then make something up on the fly.

"Negatives": I've read a few reviews about the staff being less than helpful. I've noticed this, and anyone with an ounce of perception can quickly figure out why. I have a 20 gallon tank at home. I spend a minimum of 10 minutes a day testing water, feeding, cleaning, adding supplements, changing water, trimming plants, etc. This store has...I don't know. 200 times that many? I've never had to interrupt a group of employees standing around and talking. When I've had to ask for help, I've had to stop someone with their hands full, or standing on a ladder. If this bothers you, stop by on a weekday afternoon or evening when things are less hectic. One review I read stated there was "water on the floor". Really? In a bustling aquarium store? Shocking!

Dead fish. I've seen a few. In plant tanks and in the Shrimp tank. Maybe the store can provide some clarity, but my guess is these fish were sick and being quarantined in that tank. Maybe they were feeder fish that were put in that tank to provide an ammonia source? I just don't know, but I do know that I've never seen dead fish in with other fish for sale. Never.

Prices. I don't think they are high at all. Higher than online? Sure, but I want to SEE the plant or driftwood or decor I am getting... visualize it in my tank. I'll pay for that convenience.

I've had exactly one "bad" experience. A few weeks ago, I bought a "Temple Plant" I posted a picture of my tank online, and someone told me they didn't think it was an aquatic plant. I searched Temple Plant, and sure enough while it looked very close, it didn't look like a Temple Plant. Within a few days, it started to die and I had to remove it. Everything else I've bought from there has thrived. And for what it's worth, the woman that sold me the "Temple Plant" told me it would "survive but not thrive" in my specific setup.

If you want staff at your beck and call, go to a big box store with their algae filled bare tanks. If you want a great selection and quality, head to the...

Update after response: I appreciate the transparency on here. I hope this is a friendly reminder to explain things to your employees as we asked multiple about quarantine and treating for ich and got the same responses. My review stands, if you are going to QT your fish yourself this store has great selection, if you don't have room, time, or expertise for QT at your house then go to another store with a reputable QT process.

P.S. - explaining that you treat with copper and prazi can be easily misconstrued as - i will be getting a fish that has been treated with copper and prazi. This is my loss of course cause i did not know that it actually meant "these fish may only be in copper for 8 hours, but the tanks that they go into do have copper and possibly prazi in them." I have learned my expensive lesson and am just trying to make sure others go into the store with correct expectations.

Original Review: The Short: Large selection of saltwater fish but they do NOT quarantine despite what some of the employees will tell you. The 2 stars is because they have a large selection, otherwise, 0 stars for the employees being misleading with their information and costing probably hundreds of hobbyists their entire tank livestock.

The Long: recently took a few trips here to purchase some fish. I inquired multiple times about copper treatment and prazi treatment for internal parasites. All of the employees that I asked confirmed that these fish do get run through copper and prazi....which i guess isn't technically wrong, but it is for less than a day - so it's very very deceiving. When my friend who went after me asked a few follow up questions, the employees seemed to not really know what the treatments were or were trying to word it in a way that wasn't a lie but wasn't very telling. The final person he asked about treatment told him that the fish are basically not treated at all and come right out onto the floor the same day that they arrive. I would consider buying from here if i were doing my own quarantine procedure. however, since they were deceiving and my brother in laws entire tank came down with Ich and lost all of them, I will not be trusting their fish caring techniques from now on and therefore not returning. Additionally, when we mentioned the loss of fish they didn't care and said they do not do any sort of discount or guarantee (which if you're not familiar, that is a very very very common thing for reliable sources to do in the marine fish industry).

Again, if you are aware that they are not actually quarantined like they claim, and the fish could have illnesses and you are going to quarantine yourself, this might be an okay option. otherwise, go somewhere more reliable and...

Very rude service from one named Julie at the counter. I have been going to this store for a long time so i set a new tank to cycle, being addicted to the hobby. Once cycling finished i bought 2 false perc clownfish and they promptly died 2 weeks after purchase from what i am certain is brooklynella. I brought this up with Julieatthecounter, in a very respectful and non confrontational way and was rudely told that there was a zero percent chance that the brooklynella BACTERIA is present in their systems. Brooklynella is a parasite, Julieatthecounter, and i dont care how awesome you think your wholesaler is, but brooklynella slips thru the cracks easily even when medicated on the wholesale level. I started my tank with dry sand, and dry rock, along with a bio spira culture. Im prettu sure brooklynella wasnt introduced via the dry sand and rock, and i want my money back for the distilled water i used if it came thru that. How, julieatthecounter, did it get into my tank if they were not already exposed of it? Since brooklynella is a parasite, it can lie dormant in a fishes gills for up to a month, where it may develop resistances to certain meds, even formalin. Just treat your clownfish and stop being nasty, julieatthecounter, when you cant get your facts straight! I have been in the reefing hobby for 20 years and have had clownfish for all 20 of em! Also, i am not a cruel person, julie, for having a tank thats under 50 gallons, when you have a nano reef tank for sale right across the counter that you act so rudely behind! I do know what im doing! I loved this store for a long time, and i came in trying to help them, and get them to treat fish that could potentially have a lethal dormant PARASITE(yes, CounterJulie, parasite). I wasnt even looking for a refund! I even ended up buying stuff that day, but if i knew how nasty Juliethegoddessofthecounter was going to be to me, I wouldnt have bothered. I wont be frequenting this place again. They are laxidasical in their quarantining of their fish, and dont even know the facts of the disease they are insisting they dont have. I would say check this place out if you want, but stear clear of their clownfish, and Julie, the all knowing, better than anyone else, animal lover lady behind the counter. Please, all i want is for you guys to treat those poor clownfish, as every single one in that tank, and amy tanks connected to it, has been exposed to brooklynella. A couple simple formalin dips is all you need, but you guys chose to disrespect and humiliate me in front of employees and customers alike instead of playing it safe and treating the fish anyway. The lives of these little animals should always come first! Thank...